PURA asks CL&P, UI to ‘scale back’ aggressive tree-trimming plan

(Mara Lavitt — New Haven Register)
March 6, 2014 Hamden
A public information meeting about tree trimming was held by the CT Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) at the Hamden Middle School. Residents and elected officials from greater New Haven attended. New Haven's Tree Warden and Deputy Director of Parks and Squares, Christy Hass, left, and New Haven Mayor Toni Harp spoke first. mlavitt@newhavenregister.com

NEW BRITAIN >> Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority has asked Connecticut Light & Power and The United Illuminating Co. to adopt a less aggressive approach to tree trimming until the agency has had an opportunity to rule on the subject that is currently before regulators.

PURA is requesting the two utilities voluntarily “scale back” their tree-trimming efforts while the agency is still hearing the case. John Betkoski, PURA’s vice chairman and the lead commissioner in the agency’s review of the utilities tree trimming plans, said last week that a preliminary ruling in the case is likely to be issued in early April.

PURA’s request comes after a pair of public hearings last week in which Connecticut resident expressed their displeasure over the tree-trimming plans UI and CL&P are trying to get regulators to approve. A hearing PURA conducted Thursday on UI’s plan at the Hamden Middle School lasted for nearly five hours.

“Until we complete our assessment, the PURA calls upon the utilities to suspend complete eradication of trees not sanctioned by local tree wardens and to continue with ongoing programs of therapeutic trimming,” Betkoski said in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon.

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PURA Chairman Arthur House said having the utilities scale back their tree trimming efforts will give regulators “a time out to balance competing needs.”

One — as established by law — is Connecticut’s demonstrated need for more aggressive tree trimming to secure the reliability of vital utility services,” House said in a statement. The second need, especially articulated by communities in the New Haven and Hamden areas, is to avoid unnecessary eradication of trees and instead proceed with selective trimming.”

PURA’s request to the utilities does not seek the suspension of what agency officials term “routine vegetation management activities.” The utilities are being asked to respond to PURA’s request within three business days.

Shortly after PURA announced its request on Tuesday, CL&P issued a statement in which officials of the utility agreed to comply with the agency’s request and pledged “to balance the need to trim trees for reliability with the desire to maintain esthetics.”

“It’s important to note that trees are the number one cause of power outages and we have seen tangible reduction in tree-related power outages in communities that have worked closely with our arborists to ensure clearances are maintained,” CL&P’s statement said in part.

Joe Thomas, UI’s vice president for electric system operations, said officials at the utility are seeking clarification on the scope of what PURA is requesting.

“We have complied with the Town of Hamden’s request not to perform tree removals in the public right-of-way while a final ruling on the program from PURA is pending,” Thomas said in a statement. “We will continue to work with other tree wardens, and with PURA, on this process.”

Roger Reynolds, legal director of Connecticut Fund for the Environment’s Climate, Transportation and Land Protection Programs, said PURA’s action is “a real positive.”

“Although this is only a temporary and voluntary action, it shows that PURA recognizes what the public has been saying,” Reynolds said. “We think their (the utilities) actions are illegal and certainly harmful.”

CFEE’s claims that the utilities tree-trimming plans are illegal are based on a bill passed by the legislature last year. That bill, Public Act 13-298, says that trees may only be slated for removal based on the risk that they pose, as determined by science-based professional training and risk assessment.

The utilities base their tree-trimming plans only upon their distance from power lines, according to CFE officials.

PURA has scheduled another meeting with representatives of the utilities on March 27 at the agency’s headquarters in New Britain.